A "predicament" describes a difficult situation. For example: "We faced a PREDICAMENT after learning that we had more people than places at the table."

As a noun a "forecast" is a prediction. "Contrasting" is a verb describing the act of comparing the differences between two things. "Thorough" is an adjective describing something that is rigorous or complete. 

"Adversity" is a noun describing hardship or difficulty. For example: "We all face ADVERSITY at some point in our lives, but it is how we respond that defines us."

None of the other answers are particularly related to "adversity."

"Valor" is an abstract noun describing courage. For example: "The rescuer displayed an act of VALOR when he jumped in front of a moving vehicle to save the dog."

"Peace" is an abstract noun describing a state of calm or the absence of violence. "Bitterness" is an abstract noun used to describe the property of bad feelings or a specific taste sensation. A "utopia" is an idealized place or society.

A person of great "renown" is someone well-known for something. An actor or singer is "renowned" for their talent. This is the same thing as "fame." While "wealth" often accompanies "fame" or "renown," this is not always the case, it is very possible to be renowned without having any money at all, just ask any poet!

"Consumerism" is the belief that the abundant purchase of goods is an act of personal value. If you pay attention to both "abundance" and "excess" in the answer choices, you will notice that they are close in meaning to one another, and that they both describe what is often a consequence or result from consumerism, but are not directly synonymous with consumerism. The action that is best captured by the idea of consumerism is, however, consumption, the correct answer. The other options are not close in meaning to consumerism, so you may therefore eliminate them. This is a tricky question, since it might intially appear that there is more than one answer. By pairing words in answer choices (when two words in the answers are very similar to each other), you may come closer to elminating them as well.

A "knack" is a special talent someone has for something. To provide further help, "likeness" means similarity; "duty" means responsibility; "mean" means average; "passion" means strong emotion. 

The word "defect," when used as a noun, means an imperfection, a flaw. When used as a verb "defect" means to leave an organization, to join the other side. To provide further help, a "pacifist" is someone who does not believe in using violence; a "belligerent" is a competitor, an aggressor; a "culprit" is a guilty party, the person who is responsible for the crime; an "underdog" is the person who is expected to lose, not the favorite. 

"Gusto" means enthusiasm. To do something "with gusto" means to do something with energy and enthusiasm. To provide further help, "lethargy" means lack of energy; "apathy" means not caring, lack of interest; "veracity" means truthfulness, honesty. 

A "prophecy" is a prediction. To provide further help, an "antidote" is a solution to a poison, a cure. 

"Anxiety" is a feeling of concern or fear about the future. To provide further help, "envy" is jealousy, wanting what someone else has; "dread" means deep fear. Although "dread" is a somewhat accurate answer, it is more intense in meaning that "concern."